10 
CASE OF SPINAL DISEASE IN A SOW. 
seen to be very weak in her hind quarters, and had gradually got 
worse. 
Symptoms . — Feeds tolerably well. Milk nearly gone. Lies 
down most of the time. With some difficulty she is able to get 
up. When up, she can but barely stand, or move along by being 
propped up on each side, and her legs are crossed under her body, 
in every direction, while she is in the act of walking. Her weak- 
ness appears to originate in the spine, as she totters and bends in 
a marked degree from that part. Respiration aoout natural. 
Treatment . — As I believed the disease originated in the spinal 
nerves, I took about a pint of blood from a vein that ran over the 
outside of the left hock, near to the os calcis. I tied a cord around 
the thigh, which soon dilated the vein. I first of all tried to find 
a similar vein to what there is in the horse on the inside of the 
thigh, but could not raise one. I could easily feel the femoral 
artery, but durst not open it ; though it might have been easily 
done, as it lay very superficially. 
Give hyd. chlor. gr. iss, ant. pot. tart. gr. ij, sem. colchici gr. iij, 
in a pill, night and morning, until they have some effect on her. 
Rub some ung. hyd. bin. cum ant. pot. tart, along the spine, after 
having washed the parts well with soap and water with a hard 
brush. To be kept quiet. 
8 th . — She is a little better, being able to move her hinder 
parts quicker, and stand on them more firmly; but when walking 
about she crosses her legs a good deal, and each doubles under and 
knocks against the other. At times she stands on the point of 
the fetlock joints. Heeds better. The blister has taken but little 
effect, although it was very strong (hyd. bin. 3j, adipis Jj, cum ant. 
pot. tart.) No injurious effect, neither nausea nor purging, has been 
seen from the medicine. Continue the medicine, and rub some 
liquid blister on the loins. Took about §iv of blood from one of 
the hind legs. Would have taken more, but it bled badly. 
2\st . — She has been taking the medicine regularly from the 
first without any appearance of disagreeing with her, or pro- 
ducing any ill effect. I now found her a great deal better, as she 
could run about almost as fast as usual; but she was still weak and 
crossed her legs, but nothing like as at first. R. pulv. helleb. alb. 
gr. xlv made into xxx pills, one to be given twice a-day, unless 
any bad effect be produced ; and the strong blister to the loins to 
be repeated. The other did scarcely produce vesication, or indeed 
swelling of the parts. Her appetite does not fail her. 
July ls£. — Nearly well. 
6th . — Quite well. 
